Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
Karate Classes in Bensonhurst
We are not a Bensonhurst branch of anything. This is the dojo, on 65th Street, and it has been on this block since 1972. If you live in Bensonhurst you can almost certainly walk here.
Fifty years at one location in one neighborhood means something specific: the people who train here are neighbors. Parents who took class as kids bring their own children in. Students who moved away come back when they visit. It is not a customer base, it is a block.
It also means we have no interest in selling you a contract at the door. If you live nearby you will walk past this place for years. We would rather you come in, train for an hour, and decide honestly whether it is for you.
Karate classes for Bensonhurst students
KidsAges 6–12
Children train in the same system, in the same room, as every student who has trained at this dojo. The pace is different; the standard is not.
TeenAges 13–16
Teenagers get treated as capable. The training is demanding and the expectations are clear, which is usually the point for anyone who walks in at this age.
AdultAges 17+
You do not need any experience to start. We welcome students of any skill level, starting from zero. Zen Goju Temple is a fighting school and there is sparring: Thursday is motion study sparring and Friday is harder. The lower rank sets the pace. Friday classes also teach conditioning and grappling.
Who teaches
Classes are led by Sensei Vladimir Ferdman. The dojo sits in the line that runs from Grandmaster Peter G. Urban through Shihan Vincent Merenda, who taught here for decades. Read the lineage or meet the instructors.
Getting to the dojo from Bensonhurst
Brooklyn, NY 11204
(718) 645-2402
The dojo is at 2533 65th St, inside Bensonhurst itself. Check the current class times before you travel, or call and we will tell you what suits your age group.
Common questions from Bensonhurst
Where exactly is the dojo from Bensonhurst?
The dojo is at 2533 65th St, inside Bensonhurst itself. The full address is 2533 65th St, Brooklyn, NY 11204. Call (718) 645-2402 if you want directions.
Do you have a separate Bensonhurst location?
No. There is one dojo and one address, and there always has been. Everyone trains in the same room.
Can I try a class before joining?
Yes. Your first class is free. Wear comfortable clothes, no uniform needed.
What style of karate do you teach?
U.S.A. Goju, the system founded by Grandmaster Peter G. Urban in 1968. This dojo has taught it here since 1972.
Book a free class from Bensonhurst
Prefer to talk? Call (718) 645-2402. Otherwise send this and we will get back to you.